Signal



Patented Aug. 14, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT orifice- CLARENCE S. SNAVELY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNR TO THE UNION SWITCH & SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

. SIGNAL.

Application led March 8, 1.923.V Serial No, 623,757.

My invention relates to signals, and particularly to signals of the type capable. of displaying a plurality of distinctivefmdications.

I will describe one form of signal embodying my invention, and will thenpoint out the novel features thereof in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings,F ig. l is a vertical sectional view showing one form `of signal embodying my invention. F ig. 2

is a view, partly diagrammatic, partly sectioned, and partly in elevation showing the optical system and electrical control of the signal shown in Fig. 1 and also embodying my invention. F ig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 5 6 of Fig. 2, show ing means for producing aback light for the stop indication oi the signal. a

Similar reference characters reter to similar partsrin each of the views.

Referring iirst to F ig. l, the signal comprises a suitable casing A provided with a socket A for mounting the signal, as upon a mast. A back plate B and a front plate C are secured to this casing and form parts thereof. Fastened to the Vfront plate C is a screen K of some suitable material, such as sheet metal, one function of which is to provide a uniform background for the signal indications which are displayed through the front plate C as will hereinafter appear thus increasing the range of visibility of the signal.

Arranged in a suitable recess in the body A of the case are a signal lamp PG, and a pair of lenses l G and DG. These elements are so arranged that when lamp PG is lighted a beam of parallel rays is projected therefrom by the lenses NG and DG. Means are provided for giving this beam of light a distinctive color, as green, which result may be accomplished by making one of the lenses as i G ot green glass. The front plate C is provided with two openings, spaced apart and one of which is directly above the other. The upper ot these openings is provided with a cover glass SG and the lower open-' ing H is provided with a cover glass QG. These two cover glasses SG and QG are provided with hoods OG and EG, respectively, one function of which is to increase the visibility ot the signals by shielding the glass covers from the direct rays of the sun.

The parallel'rays of the beam of green PG. is defiected by a mirror MG, similar to mirror LG,through cover glass QG in the di-v rection ot' arrow b. The appearance of the signal when lamp PG is lighted, then, is twoY green lights one vertically above the other, and this I will term proceed indication. The signal is also provided with another electric lamp PY from which lenses N Y and DY, similar to lenses l Gand DG, project a beam of parallel rays ot' -yellow light along the axis 3 1. Mirrors LY and W, similar to LG and MG, are so located that this beam is deflected through two cover glasses only, one of which, QY is shown in the drawing and which are on a line at l5 angular degrees with the vetrical. Vhen lamp PY is lighted the signal indication is twoyellow lights so disposed that `a line drawn through them will make approximately 45 degrees with the vert-ical and this I :will term a"caution indication.

In a similar fashion a red lamp PR serves when lighted toproject two beams of red light from two cover glasses only'one of which, QR, is shown in the drawing. The indication displayed by the signal when lamp PR is lighted is two red lights so lccated that a line drawn through them is substantially horizontal, and this I vwill term a stop7 indication. The cover glass associated with the lamps PY and PR are provided with hoods which are similar in all respects to the hoods DG and EG provided for the cover glasses associated with lamp PG.

The lamps arecontrolled in any suitable manner such as by a three position relay J.

Ril

which in turn may be controlled by any which is capable of assuming three positions which in practice will correspond to stop, caution and proceed indications ot the signal. rlhe lamp PG is provided with a circuit which passes from a suitable source of energy such as a battery I. through wire l-l, contact -11 o relay J, wire 16, lamp PG, and* wires 1T and l5 back to battery l. rThis circuit is closed only when contact 10-11 of relay J is closed, in which case lamp PG is lighted and the signal displays a proceed indication. A circuit is provided for lamp PY which passes from battery Irthroughwwire 14, contactl 10s-12 of relay J, wire 21. lamp *,PY, and wires 2() and 15 back to battery L This circuit is closed only when Contact 10-12 of relay J is closed, in which case lampi?Y is lighted andthe signal displays a caution indication. Lamp P is also provided with a circuit which passes from battery I through wire 14, contact 10--13 of relay J, wire 18, lamp Pn.- and wires 19, Q0 ,and 15 hack to battery l. This circuit is closed only when contact 10-13 of rela-y J is closed, in which case the signal displays a stop indication.

Under certain conditions it is desirable that an observer, stationed at a point in rear of the signal as for example on a train which has passed the, signal moving in the direction in which the signal governs, be able to ascertain whether the signal is displaying a stop indication.

As shownl in the drawing this is aecomplished as follows: The back wall B ot the signal casing is provided with an aperture fitted with a cover glass 31 so located that a small mirror interposed in the beam of light projected from lamp PR will reflect light towards the rear of the signal through this cover glass. The small mirror 30 may be s upportedby any, suitable means such as a bracket 33 and is located adjacent one of the horizontally spaced mirrors as LR as best shown in Fig. 3. It is plain that light will be projected through lens 31 only when lamp LR is lighted.

One advantage of my invention is the fact that the indication of the signal is given both by the color ot the lights and the position of the lights. Thus the signal is correctly readable by persons partially or completely color blind and displays a double indication. Another advantage is that the signalhas no moving parts and is therefore rugged and durable.

Although I' have herein shown and d'escribed only one form ofl signal embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claim without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim is:

signal comprising a plurality of lamps disposed in a. vertical plane, yoptical means associated with each lamp for projecting from the lamp an original beam ot parallel rays` directed toward a common center in .said vertical plane, and two light reflectors located in each original beam and staggered horizontally so that one deflector is on one side ol said vertical plane and the other def'lector is on the other side of said vertical plane whereby said deflectors intercept two different portions of the original beam, the two deliectors for each lamp being parallel and located on opposite sides of a horizonf tal axis through said common center, all ot' said detlectors being disposed at the .same angle with said horizontal axis; and each of them being positioned to redirect its portion of an original beam in a secondary beam parallel to said axis.

In testimony whereof I alix my signature.

CLARENCE s. sNavnLv. 

